Window Installation
Window replacement on an occupied NYC building is a facade job as much as a glazing job — the perimeter sealant and flashing detail around a new window is what actually keeps water out, not the window unit itself. Altius CM installs replacement windows as standalone work or as part of a broader facade restoration contract, so the window and the wall around it get waterproofed as one system.
Why window replacement and facade sealant work go together
On buildings where Altius CM is already running facade restoration, window sill and perimeter sealant work is typically scoped alongside it, because a new sealant joint that isn’t tied into the surrounding wall’s waterproofing detail is a leak waiting to happen. At The Armory, 529 West 42nd Street, window sill pinning and repairs were part of the same FISP 9 facade restoration contract as the parapet and masonry work, and at Kips Bay Complex, 100% window caulk replacement across 8 structures ran alongside slab edge restoration and balcony waterproofing. At 150 West 56th Street, deteriorated window sealant replacement and broken exterior glass access were part of the envelope restoration, and at 1166 Fox Street, 3,000 linear feet of window caulking ran with the EIFS work.
If your building is a multiple dwelling and any unit has a child age 10 or under (or a tenant requests it in writing), NYC requires approved window guards on those windows and in public-area windows — a requirement that has to be accounted for at installation, not retrofitted afterward. Source: NYC Admin Code §27-2043.1.
What we handle
- Full window replacement, unit by unit or building-wide
- Perimeter sealant and flashing integration with the surrounding facade
- Window guard compliance coordination for multiple dwellings
- New construction and retrofit installation
- Coordination with ongoing facade restoration contracts
Frequently Asked Questions
Should window replacement be scoped with facade restoration or as its own contract? If you’re already doing facade work, bundle it — the perimeter sealant detail around the window ties directly into the wall’s waterproofing, and running it as one contract avoids two trades’ work meeting at a seam that becomes the next leak point.
Do window guards apply to a commercial building? The window guard requirement applies to multiple dwellings (residential buildings with three or more units), not commercial or industrial buildings, though public-area windows in a mixed-use building’s residential portion are covered.
Does replacing windows change my building’s energy code obligations? Window replacement is subject to NYC Energy Conservation Code requirements on the new units. We coordinate with your architect or engineer of record on code-compliant specifications as part of scoping.
Can windows be replaced without a sidewalk shed? Sometimes — it depends on access method and whether other facade work is happening at the same time. If replacement requires exterior access via scaffold or lift, standard site-safety and protection requirements apply.
